Monitoring Reports

During periods of drought, the Cooperative Water Supply Operations on the Potomac (CO-OP) helps manage the Washington metropolitan area water supply system by coordinating withdrawals from the Potomac River and off-river reservoirs and recommending releases from upstream reservoirs when forecasted flow in the river is not sufficient to meet expected needs. These needs include water demands and an environmental flow-by of 100 million gallons per day (MGD) on the Potomac River at Little Falls dam near Washington, D.C.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Wednesday 09/09/2015)

Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 09:00

According to National Weather Service Multisensor Precipitation Estimates (MPE), essentially no rain fell in the basin during the past 24 hours. Relief from the dry conditions may be on the way however; quantitative precipitation forecasts predict approximately 3/4 inches over the basin in the next 3 days and 1.5 to 2.5 inches in the next 5 days.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Saturday 09/05/2015)

Submitted by admin1 on Sat, 09/05/2015 - 09:00

Flows in the basin have been holding relatively steady. Scattered thunderstorms occurred throughout the basin over the past 24 hours and the NWS's Meteorological Model-based Ensemble Forecast System (MMEFS) predicts that flows in the Potomac River will rise slightly over the next several days. Little precipitation is expected in the basin during the next three days.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Friday 09/04/2015)

Submitted by admin1 on Fri, 09/04/2015 - 09:00

The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center's 24-hour accumulated precipitation map is showing that scattered areas in the basin received 0 to 1.2 inches of rain yesterday. The 3-day forecast show an accumulation between 0.1 and 0.5 is possible, with the higher amounts likely to the central area of the basin. National Weather Service ensemble river forecast for the next four days calls for rising flows at Point of Rocks.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Thursday 09/03/2015)

Submitted by admin1 on Thu, 09/03/2015 - 09:00

MARFC's 24-hour accumulated precipitation map is showing that scattered areas in the basin received 0.1 to 1.75 inches of rain yesterday. The 3-day forecast shows an accumulation between 0.1 and 0.75 is possible, with the higher amounts likely to the southwest.

The USGS visited the Point of Rocks gage yesterday to verify the rating curve. Flow was measured as slightly less than what the gage was reporting.

Daily Potomac flow and demand update (Monday 08/31/2015)

Submitted by admin1 on Mon, 08/31/2015 - 09:00

Flow at the Point of Rocks gage fell below the 2,000 cfs threshold on Friday. Daily monitoring begins today. For more information on ICPRB's drought monitoring visit http://tinyurl.com/oda5aqp.

The Middle Atlantic River Forecast Center reports that the majority of the basin received a negligible amount of rain over the past 24 hours; very limited areas received 0.5 to 2 inches. Little to no rain is expected over the next 2 days.